One of several decorated caps spotted during commencement exercises at the
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., August 6, 2011.
(Birmingham News/Jeff Roberts)

An Oct. 30 story in The Chronicle of Higher Education explored the phenomenon of U.S. universities intensely courting out-of-state students in order to reap tuition surcharges, making up for lean budgets.

Enrollment statistics suggest that Alabama’s two largest institutions of higher learning are among the many suitors in this game.

“Public universities across the country are engaged in an all-out war for out-of-state students,” according to The Chronicle story, written by reporters Eric Hoover and Josh Keller. “Deep cuts in support are driving the search for revenue, and in many states, a stagnating pool of local applications has pushed colleges to recruit broadly, The winners ... bring in higher out-of-state tuition and get to skim from a larger pool of prospective students.”

To accompany the story, The Chronicle provided an interactive graphic offering freshmen enrollment details at 1,400 colleges and universities, based on U.S. Department of Education data.

In Alabama, home-state students accounted for 57.2 percent of new freshmen in fall 2010 at the University of Alabama (3,121), and 56 percent at Auburn University (2,282), according to the federal data. Those two percentages were the lowest at UA and AU since at least 1994.

Meanwhile, other universities in Alabama recorded higher — even significantly higher —percentages of in-state freshmen in fall 2010. For example, in-state freshmen comprised 80.6 percent of the new class at the University of South Alabama, and slightly over 90 percent at UAB.

The federal data showed that the neighboring states of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi supplied 1,124 freshmen to the University of Alabama and 1,110 to Auburn in fall 2010. (In both cases, Georgia was the leading source: 565 freshmen to UA and 618 to AU.)

Out-of-state surcharges are steep at both institutions: $13,300 at Alabama and $14,592 at Auburn for the current academic year, according to the universities’ websites. Based on those cost figures, Alabama and Auburn would be collecting $14.9 million and $16.2 million, respectively, if all of their fall 2010 freshmen from just the four adjacent states were paying the surcharges out of pocket.

Analysts quoted in The Chronicle story cautioned that the “out-of-state gold rush” might prove hard to sustain for U.S. universities. Moreover, one expert warned that it could weaken the case for state support once the economy recovers. 

Booz Allen hires Thad Allen

Adm. Thad Allen, the retired U.S. Coast Guard commandant who served as national incident commander for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, has been hired as a senior vice president by consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.

The McLean, Va.-based company said in a news release that Allen will join its Justice and Homeland Security business and “lead development of thought leadership and client engagement regarding the direction of law enforcement and Homeland Security 10 years after 9/11.”

“Thad’s 40 years of experience in critical operational missions, including leadership of the nation’s largest ‘whole of government’ responses during Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, will allow him to provide a unique perspective on how government agencies must evolve during the next decade,” said Ralph W. Shrader, chairman and chief executive officer at Booz Allen Hamilton. 

Keahey leads delegation to New York

Senate Minority Whip Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, recently organized and led a delegation of local leaders who met with Ma Xiuhong, the former vice minister of commerce of China and current chairwoman of the China Foreign Trade Centre, to discuss expanding trade and recruiting new business to southwest Alabama.

The delegation traveled to New York for the annual meeting of the China General Chamber of Commerce, where more than 100 foreign businesses interested in locating to the United States were represented.

“The people we met with were very impressed by the success we’ve had in recruiting business to southwest Alabama,” said Keahey. “This year alone we brought nearly 1,000 new jobs to my Senate District.”

Keahey said the delegation’s meetings went well, and that high-ranking foreign officials were expected to visit the state in the coming months.

“They are very excited at the prospect of opening facilities here,” he said, “and we are very excited about the jobs those facilities would bring.”

Keahey noted that, over the past year, businesses including Huntsman Corp., Tate and Lyle, and SET Enterprises announced they would be opening or re-opening facilities in southwest Alabama. 

‘Mister Democrat’ blasts Davis 

An item in the Nov. 21 edition of the Skinny raised the hackles of Ed Kahalley Sr. of Mobile.

Kahalley, known as Mobile’s “Mr. Democrat,” objected to Artur Davis’ criticism of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Davis, a former Democratic congressman who fell short in his bid for governor of Alabama last year, described the movement as “visible, noisy and not terribly relevant.”

Kahalley said he could say the same about Davis.

“Well, here we go again. The Mobile Press-Register quoting Artur Davis as if he was important to Alabama,” Kahalley wrote in a letter to the Skinny. “Artur Davis was soundly defeated in a Democratic Primary and he just can’t get over it.”

Kahalley, who backed Davis’ Democratic opponent, Ron Sparks, in last year’s election, said he was a supporter of the Occupy movement.

“These folks have a just cause for themselves, their children and grandchildren and they are working to save our country from the rich and powerful,” Kahalley wrote. “They represent a voice which will be heard on election day.” 

Announcements

Congressional candidate Pete Riehm will host a meet-and-greet reception at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Iron and Canvas Workshop in Fairhope, 16821 Alabama Hwy. 181. Riehm also announced the launch of a new “Restoring Common Sense Radio Town Hall” every Thursday from 8 to 9 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.

Mobile City Councilwoman Gina Gregory will hold her annual District 7 Community Christmas meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Mobile Museum of Art. Gregory will recognize our community groups and public safety officers who work in the district. She also asks people to bring gifts for the children at Wilmer Hall.

The Baldwin County Republican Executive Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Robertsdale City Hall. The meeting is being held in lieu of the November meeting which was canceled due to a conflict with the memorial service for long-time member Jim Jent. For more information visit the party’s web site at www.BaldwinGOP.com.

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Today’s column includes contributions from Dewey English and George Talbot. 